Domain Of Dragons

The Wizard's Letter

I hope this year of Handoulz 359 has found you well. As is my custom at the close of the year, I would like to summarize my findings for your archives. I continue to seek avenues to conquer mortality. My research is leading me in new and exciting directions, and it its only a matter of time before I can give our lady the knowledge she seeks.

As we have long known, creatures can be healed and restored to health. Unfortunately, this only postpones death. Luckily, measures can be taken to make creatures immune to death or restore a semblance of life after death has occured. The undoing of death falls into three categories: unplanned undeath,incidental undeath, and planned undeath. Each has its own drawbacks.

The reanimation of corpses is the most common form of unplanned undeath. In this case the remains are imbued with a semblance of life either by the will of an individual or by strong environmental magics. Creatures brought to life this way are nearly mindless, showing little or no similarity to their former selves.

Incidental undeath occurs when a creature dies in a location or manner that evokes strong necromantic forces. Shadows, ghosts, and poltergeists are all examples of creatures created this way. These creatures can retain most or all of their former personalities and memories, a step in the right direction. Sadly, their transformation seems to make reasoning and empathy difficult. Creatures created this way are often rooted to a place and/or obsessed with a single idea. I conjecture that this is caused by the trauma of death.

I believe that if the circumstances that create incidental undeath can be replicated without the trauma usually associated with death, the subject will become immortal with no ill affects. This would be an intentional glorious death. So far I have been unable to reach this ideal, but I am certain it is close at hand. Currently malice, obsession with a single goal, and difficulty with empathy are still problems. However, I believe that with further research these symptoms can be eliminated.

Beside the psychological problems of undeath, another great hurdle stands in the way of our goal. These methods work for Io’s creations, butn not the progeny of Bahmut or Tiamat. The best lead for dragonkind seems to be a variation on lichdom. This variety of undeath shows much promise, but testing is obviously much more difficult than with lesser creatures. I will continue to pursue this angle so long as subjects are willing.